taking our pulse the oclc research survey of special collections and archives

Taking Our PulseThe OCLC Research Survey of Special Collections and Archives

Jackie DooleyProgram OfficerOCLC Research

Coalition for Networked Information13 December 2010

OCLC Research Survey of Special Collections and Archives, CNI, 13 Dec 2010

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Overview

• Survey population• Project objectives• Data & action items• Q&A


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What’s wrong with this [big] picture?

• Overall collections size is growing• Use is increasing

• Too many materials remain “hidden”

• Backlogs continue to grow• Staffing is stable• 75% of library budgets have been cut


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Project objectives

1. Obtain current data to determine changes across the ARL libraries since 1998

2. Expand ARL’s survey population

3. Enable institutions to place themselves in the context of norms

4. Provide data to support decision-making

5. Recommend actions based on survey results


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Survey population

Libraries surveyed: 275

Rate of response: 61% (169)

Five membership organizations• Association of Research Libraries• Canadian Association of Research Libraries• Independent Research Libraries Association• Oberlin Group• RLG Partnership


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Respondents by type of institution


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Printed volumes in overall library


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Change in overall library funding


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Key to percentages in figures:

Red = % of respondentsBlack = numerical data


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“Your three most challenging issues” **

1. Space: 64%

2. Born-digital materials: 37%

3. Digitization: 35%

** Funding and staffing were disallowed. Respondents could name up to three challenges.


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Top education and training needs

1. Born-digital materials: 83%

2. Information technology: 65%

3. Intellectual property: 56%

4. Cataloging and metadata: 51%


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Assessment: Action item

Develop and promulgate metrics that enable standardized measurement of key elements of special collections use and management.


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Collections: Growth

Mean ARL collections growth since 1998• Books: 50%• Archives/manuscripts: 50%• Audio: 240%• Visual and moving image: 300%• Microforms: decreased 80%

Special collections in remote storage: 67%


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Collections: Sample questions

Is dramatic growth of collections sustainable? If not, what should change?

Why are formal collaborative collection development partnerships still so rare?


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Collections: Action items

Identify barriers that limit collaborative collection development. Define key characteristics and desired outcomes of effective collaboration.

Take collective action to share resources for cost-effective preservation of at-risk audiovisual materials.


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User services: Onsite visits

ARL• Mean: 6,200• Median: 3,100

CARL• Mean: 4,900• Median: 2,300

IRLA• Mean: 8,300• Median: 4,400

Oberlin• Mean: 788• Median: 731

RLG• Mean: 7,500• Median: 4,500


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User services: Onsite visits

Percent of each type of user• Faculty/staff: 9%• Graduate students: 5%• Undergraduates: 12%• Visiting scholars/researchers: 24%• Local community: 7%• “Other”: 43%


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Changes in level of use by type of user

Note: Numbers of respondents.


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Changes in use by format



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Access to uncataloged/unprocessed materials



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Use of digital cameras

Users may employ personal digital cameras in the special collections reading room: 87%

C.f. Lisa Miller, et al. “Capture and Release”: Digital Cameras in the Reading Room. OCLC Research, 2010. http://www.oclc.org/research/publications/library/2010/2010-05.pdf


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Reasons to disallow digital camera use

Note: n=27


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Average charge for a digital scan


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Web-based communication methods


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User services: Sample question

Does the level of use of special collections justify the resources being expended?


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User services: Action items

Develop and liberally implement exemplary policies to facilitate rather than inhibit access to and interlibrary loan of rare and unique materials.


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Cataloging and metadata

Online catalog records• Books: 85%• Maps: 42%• Archival formats: 50% or less

ARLs show minimal improvement in “exposing hidden collections”


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Change in size of backlogs



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Cataloging & metadata: Sample questions

Why are so many backlogs continuing to increase?

Why hasn’t the emphasis on sustainable metadata methodologies had more payoff?


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Cataloging and metadata: Action items

Compile, disseminate, and adopt a slate of replicable, sustainable methodologies for cataloging and processing to facilitate exposure of materials that remain hidden and stop the growth of backlogs.

Develop shared capacities to create metadata for published materials such as maps and printed graphics for which cataloging resources appear to be scarce.


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Archival management

Archival finding aids• Online: 44%• Print-only or in local silos: 30%

Simplified processing techniques• Always: 18%• Sometimes: 57%


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Encoding of archival finding aids

Note: Respondents could check all that apply. Percent of respondents, not finding aids.


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Archival management

Finding aids tools are not standardized• Most commonly used: word processing,

databases• Archivists Toolkit: 34%• Archon: 11%• ArchivesSpace tentatively forthcoming (AT +

Archon)

Institutional archives• Reports to library: 87%• Responsible for records management: 70%


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Archival management: Action item

Convert legacy finding aids using affordable methodologies to enable Internet access.

Resist the urge to upgrade or expand the data.

Develop tools to facilitate conversion from local databases.


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Digitization

Note: Respondents could check all that apply.


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Special collections involvement in digitization projects


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Large-scale digitization of special collections

Definition: Systematic reproduction of entire collections using streamlined production methods that account for special needs.


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Licensed content

Content licensed to commercial firms for digitization: 26%

C.f. Principles to Guide Vendor/Publisher Relations in Large- Scale Digitization Projects of Special Collections Materials. ARL policy, approved July 2010.

http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/principles_large_scale_digitization.pdf




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Digitization: Sample questions

What constitutes an effective large-scale digitization project?

Can we collaborate to complete the corpus of digitized rare books?


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Digitization: Action itemsDevelop models for large-scale digitization of special collections, including methodologies for selection of appropriate collections, security, safe handling, sustainable metadata creation, and ambitious productivity levels.

Determine the scope of the existing corpus of digitized rare books, differentiating those available as open access from those that are licensed. Identify the most important gaps and implement collaborative projects to complete the corpus.


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Born-digital archival materials

In a nutshell …• Undercollected• Undercounted• Undermanaged• Unpreserved• Inaccessible


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Born-digital archival materials• Holdings reported by: 35%

• Mean gigabytes: 1500 GB• Median gigabytes: 90 GB• Percent held by top two libraries: 51%• Percent held by top 13 libraries: 93%

• Digital materials currently held by: 79%

• Assignment of responsibility for born-digital management: 44%

• Education/training needed by: 83%

• We surmise that collecting is generally passive, sporadic, limited.


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Responsibility for born-digital archival materials


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Impediments to born-digital management

Note: Respondents could check all that apply.


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Born-digital materials already held


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Born-digital materials: Sample questions

What would best help us jump-start progress on managing born-digital archival materials?

C.f. Ricky Erway. Defining “born digital.” OCLC Research, 2010. http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/hiddencollections/borndigital.pdf


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Born-digital materials: Action items

Define the characteristics of born-digital materials that warrant management as “special collections.”

Define a reasonable set of basic steps for initiating an institutional program for responsibly managing born-digital archival materials.

Develop use cases and cost models for selection, management, and preservation of born-digital archival materials.


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Changes in staffing levels



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Education and training needs


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Staffing: Action items

Confirm high-priority areas in which education and training opportunities are not adequate for particular segments of the professional community. Exert pressure on appropriate organizations to fill the gaps.


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Taking our PulseThe OCLC Research Survey of

Special Collections and Archives

http://www.oclc.org/research/publications/library/2010/2010-11.pdf



taking our pulse the oclc research survey of special collections and archives

Documents

survey populationlibraries

overall collections

arls survey population

library budgets

arl libraries

action itemdevelop

key characteristics

action itemsidentify